Bill Delindo had come to terms with the idea that a Picasso print stolen from a Milwaukee gallery back in 2018 was lost to him forever.
However, last week, he got a surprising call from the police, asking him to look at an artwork that a local landlord had discovered while cleaning out a vacant apartment.
As soon as he saw it, Delindo recognized the stolen print, titled “Trero.” This piece is one of only 30 known to bear Picasso’s signature.
“I was overwhelmed,” Delindo recounted on Friday. “I was speechless. It was just an overwhelming moment for me.”
The sticker from his Delindo Art Appraisal was still affixed to the back of the framed print, just like it had been in 2018.
“It was definitely mine,” he affirmed. “I’ve come full circle.”
Milwaukee landlord Tim Darts mentioned to WISN-TV that he stumbled upon the print while cleaning an apartment after the eviction of a tenant.
“It was in a strange spot on the wall,” Tim Darts explained. “There was a lot of dust on it, so it seemed like it had been there for a long time.”
After finding the print, Darts showed it to a friend who happens to deal in antiques; that friend recognized it as a Picasso and suggested it might be the one Delindo had reported missing back in 2018.
Darts handed the print over to the police, who then reached out to Delindo.
“When they called me, I was in disbelief,” Delindo said.
The Milwaukee police stated in an email that while the statute of limitations for theft and property crimes is typically six years, this case is still being investigated.
Caroline Clancy, an FBI representative in Milwaukee, opted not to provide any comments.
Delindo had valued the print between $35,000 and $50,000 at the time of the theft, but he speculated its worth might be closer to $50,000 today due to its intriguing backstory.
Currently, Delindo mentioned that the print is still with the Milwaukee Police Department, while the individual who engaged the gallery to sell it is coordinating with their insurance company.
He also shared that his former business partner, who passed away in February, was deeply affected by the theft back in 2018 and made it a point to call the police each year on the anniversary, hoping they would revisit the case in search of the Picasso.
“He would have been overjoyed about this,” Delindo reflected. “It was very special for him.”
